A common type of
motorcycle accident in which one or both tires lose traction, causing the vehicle and rider to fall to the ground. This accident often occurs while negotiating a corner at too high a speed, such that the tires' grip is insufficient to counter the centripetal acceleration.
A low-side is often a minor accident, causing little damage to either bike or rider, as long as the latter is wearing appropriate clothing. However, after sliding some distance, the rider sometimes finds himself in jeopardy of much greater damage, by virtue of having traveled into the lane of opposing traffic, or over a cliff, or into an immovable object.
See also highside.